It may sound grandiose, but these are projects of national significance, and perhaps even global significance. If implemented, they will be looked to as models by cities across the United States and world. The Hillsboro and North Portland projects in particular have the potential to prove two very important points. The Hillsboro project can show that low-density postwar suburbs, the places where most Americans live, can be transformed to make them healthier, safer, more affordable, and more sustainable places to live. The North Portland project can show that older, more urban areas can be transformed in the same way, and that less affluent people can gain particular benefits from bicycle transportation.

Chris, you raise an interesting dilemma. North Portland was likely selected for broad-based bikeway implementation precisely because past bike facilities haven't always reached Portland's poorer neighborhoods, and because North Portlanders continue to suffer enormously from past transportation "investments" that were travesties of environmental justice. It was no coincidence that the nation’s black neighborhoods suffered the brunt of postwar urban freeway-building, which in Portland and elsewhere was often explicitly presented as a form of “slum clearance.”

Yet as you say, there’s a risk that this well-intentioned strategy could backfire. That’s because postwar development has not produced a large supply of truly healthy places to live, and even fewer places where it's pleasant to bike. A lot of affluent people want to live in those places these days, though. As a result, making a neighborhood a better place to live, and making it more bikable, can increase its "market value,” price out current residents, and deprive them of the benefits they were supposed to realize.

So "gentrification-by-bikeway" is not entirely outside the realm of possibility, and there’s a certain chance that the bikeways may not ultimately reach all the people they're intended to serve. In the end, though, I think we need to err on the side of making neighborhoods better places to live. The opposite logic would have us build more freeways to depress North Portland housing prices and make the area more affordable! That would be pretty absurd.

Also, thanks to projects like this one, we can expect many more neighborhoods in Portland and the country to get many more bikeways in future. That will make them all more desirable and reduce any tendency for white, affluent bicyclists to seek out this particular neighborhood above all others. Probably the most encouraging possibility these projects offer is the chance to spread the bicycle love beyond a small set of affluent whites, and make clear that this mode of transportation has something to offer everyone. It doesn't just allow a cleaner environmental conscience, hipster street cred, and/or excellent physical form. Its virtues have much more universal appeal: convenience, health, and fun for practically free. And the world needs to know.

The twelve-lane Columbia River Crossing was classified as a “project of national significance.” Let’s hope USDOT sees that these modest little bikeway plans can ultimately have far greater significance - - and serve the greater good.

Not a reason to halt progress, but something to think about. Any thoughts?

the np greenway is high on everyone's list... however since this is a stimulus grant program, the timeframes are very tight. It means that the projects must be far along in their technical planning stages and that they must be do-able and able to be completed in the next few years. the NPGreenway just isn't quite that mature of a project yet.

rest assured, the NPGreenway and the Sullivan's Gulch are both being talked about and acted upon at very high levels right now.

The TIGER grants are national and will be very competitive. It is great that the region is offering something other than highway expansions and bridge repairs.

here's a list of the proposed projects:
http://www.oregonmetro.gov/index.cfm/go/by.web/id=31205

What I'm REALLY sad about is that North Portland Greenway did not get selected. I think it fit well in both the Urban and Urban to Nature categories, as it would help extend some of the functions of the Eastbank Esplanade all the way to St. Johns. I'm hoping that Metro continues to look at ways to help & fund this project as well as the Sullivan's Gulch project - both of which would serve as great connections from this inner portland "petri dish" to outer N and NE areas.

Mt. Hood is only 50 miles from Portland. Imagine being able to cycle over there in a few hours! That would be the ultimate day trip by bike from Portland.

Oh that that reminds me..Summer is nearly over..when is it getting repaved East of 92nd? :)